Breakwater

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a floating breakwater. Such breakwater may have elements arranged side by side with a lateral space between them such that part of the oncoming waves can pass in between. The elements may have a U-shaped horizontal cross section. They may have an arcuately curved vertical cross section so that each element can divert an oncoming wave upwardly and back upon itself.

United States Patent Richard Scholl Hergiswil, Switzerland 813,480

Apr. 4, 1969 July 27, l 971 Resa AG.

Hergiswill, Switzerland Apr. 5, 1968 Switzerland Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority BREAKWATER 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 61/5 Int. Cl E02b 3/06 FieldofSeareh 61/5,4,3,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1880 Kirkup 1,397,025 11/1921 White 61/5 2,184,462 12/1939 Milliken 61/4 2,994,201 8/1961 Hutchings. 6115 3.276209 10/1966 Mosdell 6'1/5 FOREIGN PATENTS 707,767 1931 France 61/4 5,336 1883 Great Britain 61/5 Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro Attorney-Roylance, Abrams, Berdo & Kaul ABSTRACT: There is disclosed a floating breakwater. Such breakwater may have elements arranged side by side with a lateral space between them such that part of the oncoming waves can pass in between. The elements may have a U- shaped horizontal crosssection. They may have an arcuately curved vertical cross section so that each element can divert an oncoming wave upwardly and back upon itself.

BREAKWATER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention broadly relates to improvements in a breakwater, especially one made of metal.

The object of a breakwater is generally to protect an area that lies behind it in relation to the wave front, from approaching waves.

The breakwaters as hitherto known are solidly connected to the ground. However, this is difficult to achieve when the ground is sloping, and also when there are large fluctuations in the water level to contend with.

Recently, floating jetties and anchoring facilities have come into favor at locations where the above problems arise on account of their independence of water depth and ground conditions. The advantages of such jetties and installations are especially obvious where there are great fluctuations in the water depth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary objective of the present invention to protect installations such as jetties and anchoring facilities, from wave action.

Tests have shown, rather surprisingly, that an effective protection of such floating installations is possible when breakwaters are installed in front of them or are connected to them.

The invention is thus concerned with a breakwater connected to at least one float, or designed as an integral part of at least one float.

The effectiveness of the breakwater can be influenced substantially by its shape and installation. It has thus been found that elements of an essentially U-shaped form in horizontal cross section arranged at intervals side by side are especially effective in a breakwater, if the U-shaped form is directed with its concave side to the wave front. It is possible to determine through simple tests the dimensions of the elements and the spacing of them which is required to be effective against a particular wave action. If preferred, however, a prefabricated product can be made which will provide an average effectiveness against various wave conditions.

If the individual elements of the breakwater are shaped in a similar manner in the vertical cross section to a snow low, they can deflect the oncoming waves and also counteract the lift of the float caused by the waves. Such elements which produce a self-dampening effect are therefore preferred.

It is furthermore preferred to connect two individual elements back to back as a unit so that those waves which roll back behind the breakwater from the protected area can be deflected. The underside of the breakwater, or of a part connected to it can also be shaped to provide a downward suction effect, which can exert an additional stabilizing force on the breakwater.

The individual elements can consist of a continuously bent sheet of metal, or of several straight strips that are connected to one another at an angle to form a composite curve, as the water flow will not be seriously impeded by the small angular joints between adjacent strips.

The individual elements can also be modified by additional stifiening such as rigging, corrugations and the like,.

The elements for the breakwater can be manufactured from metal, or any other suitable material such as a plastic having the required strength qualities.

The breakwater of this invention can be connected either flexibly or solidly to a float. The latter type of connection is preferable. It is also especially effective to arrange a breakwater along both sides of a floating jetty, which will stabilize the jetty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. I shows in plan view a diagrammatic arrangement of three elements of one embodiment of a breakwater constructed according to this invention.

FIG. 2 shows in elevational view a diagrammatic arrangement of an element of another embodiment of a breakwater constructed according to this invention, this element being connected to a float.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show different arrangements of the curved elements of the breakwater of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, three elements I have U-shaped crosssections with the legs of the U angled outwardly. These elements 1 are arranged with a lateral space between them. The oncoming wave is indicated by straight arrows 2, whereas the water flowing between the elements 1 is indicated by the forked arrows 3.

As is shown by the forking of the arrows 3 there is an increase in the space between adjacent elements I on account of the divergence of the legs of the U, this increase causing a decrease in the velocity of the water passing between adjacent elements so in turn leading to a decrease in the amplitude of the wave passing between.

By thus letting a part of the wave flow through the break water and smoothing it out through the increasing space between adjacent elements, the strain on the breakwater is diminished. The arrangement shown in the drawings has been selected to provide a clear understanding of the invention, however in practice the ratio between the width of the element and the distance from one element to the next can be varied considerably depending upon the desired effect.

In side view the elements shown in FIG. 1 can have any desired appropriate form. For example, they can be straight and essentially vertical or inclined.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7. is attached to a jetty 5. The jetty 5 rests on a barrel 4 serving as a float. The element of the breakwater 9 is fastened to the barrel 4 by a box frame 7 and the rib 8 as by welding or any other convenient technique. Rib 8 constitutes a flat, vertical plate interconnecting frame 7 and element 9.

This breakwater element has a concave shape in vertical section so that the oncoming wave is deflected in the direction of the arrows 10. The element 9 preferably has a horizontal cross section as shown in FIG. 1, and is furthermore arranged with a lateral gap between adjacent elements as shown in FIG. 1 for the elements 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, a rib or plate 11, which is similar in function and structure to rib 8 of the embodiment of FIG. 2, can be used to support two concave elements 9', the two elements being joined at their upper portions with the concavities facing opposite directions to deflect waves arriving from, for example, open sea with one element and waves reflected from a shore installation or generated on the shoreside of the breakwater with the other.

The elements 9' are connected at the bottom by part of a cylinder 13. This part of the cylinder 13 is submerged entirely in the water and functions by suction as a stabilizer. The hollow space between the elements 9' and the cylinder part 13 can also be used as a float or as ballast container for the purpose of damping vertical oscillations of the element.

FIG. 4 shows in side view the use of elements 90, and 90" arranged one in front of the other in spaced relationship to achieve a further division of the wave, as is indicated by the different arrows. Elements 90, 90' and 90" can be provided with suitable bracing and substituted for element 9 in the structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 finally shows how an element such as 9 in FIG. 2 can be fabricated from straight sections 12 which can be of any desired width.

It should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, that the objects set forth at the outset to the specification have been successfully achieved.

Accordingly, what I claim is:

l. A breakwater comprising float means for supporting wave-deflecting elements; and

a plurality of vertical elements attached to said float means to deflect oncoming waves back upon themselves,

each of said plurality of elements having a concave vertical cross section with the concavity facing in the direction from which waves are coming,

said plurality of elements being attached to said float means to maintain the concavity toward oncoming wave fronts,

said plurality of elements being attached to said float means in laterally spaced relationship.

2. A breakwater comprising float means for supporting wave-deflecting elements; and a plurality of vertical elements attached to said float means to deflect oncoming waves, each of said plurality of elements having a concave vertical cross section with the concavity facing in the direction from which waves are coming, said plurality of elements being attached to said float means to maintain the concavity toward oncoming wave fronts, said plurality of elements being attached to said float means in laterally spaced relationship, said breakwater further including a plurality of said vertical elements attached to said float means in spaced relation, one in front of the other.

3. A breakwater comprising the combination of a plurality of breakwater elements, each comprising a substantially rigid member having a surface confronting oncoming waves to deflect said waves back upon themselves, said surface being concave in both horizontal and vertical section, at least one float, and means for attaching said plurality of elements to said at least one float to maintain the concavity toward oncoming wave fronts, said elements being attached in laterally spaced relationship to pennit portions of oncoming waves to pass between adjacent elements.

4. A breakwater according to claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of elements is formed with the lower portion of said surface confronting oncoming waves protruding further than the upper portion thereof in the direction from which waves are coming.

5. A breakwater comprising the combination of a plurality of breakwater elements, each comprising a substantially rigid member having a surface confronting oncoming waves, said surface being concave in both horizontal and vertical section, at least one float, means for attaching said plurality of elements to said at least one float in laterally spaced relationship to permit portions of oncoming waves to pass between adjacent elements, each of said plurality of elements being formed with the lower portion of said surface confronting oncoming waves protruding further than the upper portion thereof in the direction from which waves are coming, and a stabilizing member attached to the lower portion of each of said plurality of elements, said stabilizing member comprising a concave, cylindrically shaped plate having the concavity facing downwardly.

6. A breakwater comprising at least one float, a plurality of substantially vertical elements secured to said at least one float to deflect oncoming waves when said breakwater is installed in an offshore location, said plurality of elements being arranged in side-by-side laterally spaced relationship to permit parts of oncoming waves to pass between adjacent ones of said elements,

each of said elements having a U-shaped horizontal cross section, the legs of the U being divergent,

each of said elements having a C-shaped vertical cross section; and

a second plurality of substantially vertical elements secured to said at least one float to deflect waves approaching the breakwater from the opposite direction, the elements of said first and second pluralities of elements being arranged in pairs with the associated ones of said pairs opening in opposite directions.

7. A breakwater according to claim 6 and further comprisa plurality of stabilizing members comprising a concave cylindrically shaped plate having the concavity facing downwardly,

pairs of elements in said first and second pluralities of elements being joined by said stabilizing member at their lower portions. 

1. A breakwater comprising float means for supporting wave-deflecting elements; and a plurality of vertical elements attached to said float means to deflect oncoming waves back upon themselves, each of said plurality of elements having a concave vertical cross section with the concavity facing in the direction from which waves are coming, said plurality of elements being attached to said float means to maintain the concavity toward oncoming wave fronts, said plurality of elements being attached to said float means in laterally spaced relationship.
 2. A breakwater comprising float means for supporting wave-deflecting elements; and a plurality of vertical elements attached to said float means to deflect oncoming waves, each of said plurality of elements having a concave vertical cross section with the concavity facing in the direction from which waves are coming, said plurality of elements being attached to said float means to maintain the concavity toward oncoming wave fronts, said plurality of elements being attached to said float means in laterally spaced relationship, said breakwater further including a plurality of said vertical elements attached to said float means in spaced relation, one in front of the other.
 3. A breakwater comprising the combination of a plurality of breakwater elements, each comprising a substantially rigid member having a surface confronting oncoming waves to deflect said waves back upon themselves, said surface being concave in both horizontal and vertical section, at least one float, and means for attaching said plurality of elements to said at least one float to maintain the concavity toward oncoming wave fronts, said elements being attached in laterally spaced relationship to permit portions of oncoming waves to pass between adjacent elements.
 4. A breakwater according to claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of elements is formed with the lower portion of said surface confronting oncoming waves protruding further than the upper portion thereof in the direction from which waves are coming.
 5. A breakwater comprising the combination of a plurality of breakwater elements, each comprising a substantially rigid member having a surface confronting oncoming waves, said surface being concave in both horizontal and vertical section, at least one float, means for attaching said plurality of elements to said at least one float in laterally spaced relationship to permit portions of oncoming waves to pass between adjacent elements, each of said plurality of elements being formed with the lower portion of said surface confronting oncoming waves protruding further than the upper portion thereof in the direction from which waves are coming, and a stabilizing member attached to the lower portion of each of said plurality of elements, said stabilizing member comprising a concave, cylindrically shaped plate having the concavity facing downwardly.
 6. A breakwater comprising at least one float, a plurality of substantially vertical elements secured to said at least one float to deflect oncoming waves when said breakwater is installed in an offshore location, said plurality of elements being arranged in side-by-side laterally spaced relationship to permit parts of oncoming waves to pass between adjacent ones of said elements, each of said elements having a U-shaped horizontal cross section, the legs of the U being divergent, each of said elements haVing a C-shaped vertical cross section; and a second plurality of substantially vertical elements secured to said at least one float to deflect waves approaching the breakwater from the opposite direction, the elements of said first and second pluralities of elements being arranged in pairs with the associated ones of said pairs opening in opposite directions.
 7. A breakwater according to claim 6 and further comprising a plurality of stabilizing members comprising a concave cylindrically shaped plate having the concavity facing downwardly, pairs of elements in said first and second pluralities of elements being joined by said stabilizing member at their lower portions. 